Sort out planning delays so we can build homes faster

The recent news that Forfar-based housebuilder Guild Homes is finishing their “last house under construction” sends a worrying sign for the sector. The family-owned firm have built three-quarters of new homes in and around their hometown since 2012 but have experienced consent and planning delays over the last few years meaning their next project for 216 new properties at the Turfbeg West development hasn’t received consent to go ahead, putting at risk the 30 jobs the business supports.

The recent news that Forfar-based housebuilder Guild Homes is finishing their “last house under construction” sends a worrying sign for the sector. The family-owned firm have built three-quarters of new homes in and around their hometown since 2012 but have experienced consent and planning delays over the last few years meaning their next project for 216 new properties at the Turfbeg West development hasn’t received consent to go ahead, putting at risk the 30 jobs the business supports.

At the heart of this issue is a failure to improve the pace that councils agree planning consent coupled with a lack of planning policy on the part of government. The number of all-sector newbuild starts in Scotland fell just under 9 per cent in the latest twelve-month period. The latest data revealed that financial year all-sector newbuild starts between 2023/24 and 2024/25 fell by 1,478 (-8.9 per cent) from 16,582 to 15,104 – the lowest 12-month figure since 2012/13. These figures are 4,327 and 5,838 lower respectively than the pandemic years of 2020/21 and 2021/22.

The drop in private-sector newbuilds was 1,123 (-8.6 per cent) lower, falling from 13,076 to 11,953. This is the lowest annual figure since 2013/14, when 11,913 homes were started.